Our Story

Business owner and restaurant afficianado Jim Spallino together with Alfonso Curti, former executive chef of “Grappolo” in Santa Ynez, have a winning combination for Orcutt’s next big thing: a local Italian trattoria.  Both Spallino and Curti have dreamed of having a restaurant of their own and when the opportunity to take on the Wine Cottage Bistro presented itself….they jumped!  Curti, a native Calabrian, moved to California from Italy a little over ten years ago and made a name for himself working at his family’s restaurant in Santa Ynez during that time.  His culinary career began as a young teenager where he worked in a family bakery and later he served in the Italian Army as a Chef for troops.  Perhaps his greatest teachers were his Nonna and Mamma where he learned the heart of Italian cooking.

When Spallino frequented the family restaurant in Santa Ynez, he zeroed in right away on the heart of the place: Chef Curti, and planted the seed for Alfonso to dream of having his own trattoria.  Trattoria Uliveto will be a gathering place for families, friends, business associates, locals and tourists with a passion for quality food and fine wine.  You will be transported to a small trattoria in the heart of Italy when you meet our staff, taste our food and soak in the atmosphere.  Favorite offerings start with the Grissini: homemade breadsticks, wrapped in prosciutto and soaked in butter and sage, then a salad of arugula, parmesean, lemon and extra virgin olive oil.  For the Main Course one might try a pasta of penne, sausage and mushrooms in a tomato cream sauce or a pizza from our wood-burning pizza oven.  Meat lovers will not be disappointed with a bistecca of the day prepared to your liking or perhaps the breaded pork chop with arugula, tomato and extra virgin olive oil. Lastly, your sweet tooth will be satiated with a rich chocolate mousse or perhaps Alfonso’s “Torta della Nonna”.  Come experience a quick escape to the Mediterranean and enjoy fine local fare at Trattoria Uliveto.  Restaurant hours: Dinner is Tues. - Sun. from 5 - 10PM and Lunch is Mon. - Fri. from 11:30 - 2:30PM.